When Is It Safe to Travel During Pregnancy?

Travel during pregnancy is safe for most people, depending upon answers to three questions obstetricians often ask:

1) Does the pregnancy require special care due to a high-risk condition?

2) How far has the pregnancy progressed?

3) Will the type of trip planned allow you to feel comfortable?

Since individual situations vary, it’s best to discuss plans with your doctor. But most women can safely travel throughout their pregnancy, says a pamphlet prepared by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Length of the pregnancy may be a consideration because the chance of certain complications varies with the term. Complications are least likely during the second trimester--the fourth through the sixth month. That period, according to medical experts, may also be the most comfortable time to travel. Fatigue and morning sickness during the first semester will have departed. Size and shape during the final trimester may cause discomfort.

While prime travel time varies from body to body, so does the best destination. Most commonly visited travel destinations, both foreign and domestic, present no problems. But it’s best to avoid adventure trips where exposure to insects, accident and disease are likely.

Before setting out on a journey, ask your doctor for a written medical summary that includes your prenatal record. It should be written because physicians in foreign countries often read English better than they understand it spoken. In case of an emergency, make sure that a travel companion knows where the record is.

If traveling abroad, ask your doctor about the most common pregnancy emergencies and then buy a foreign-language dictionary that includes words and phrases that apply.

Obtain a list of medical facilities and doctors in the countries you plan to visit. The American Red Cross, tourist boards and U.S. embassies and consulates can help.

Or, for a list of English-speaking doctors and hospitals, contact the International Assn. for Medical Assistance to Travelers, 736 Center St., Lewiston, N.Y. 14092. Allow at least eight weeks for delivery of information.

Where immunizations are concerned, it’s important to check with a physician who specializes in travel since some inoculations are dangerous to the fetus. For most Western European countries, no immunizations are required. But for countries in which disease or unsanitary conditions are present, some may be necessary.

The general rule is that vaccines made with live viruses--yellow fever or the attenuated polio vaccine, for example--have potential risks but other types may not. The same distinction is true for drugs to prevent malaria.

Check with your doctor before getting any immunizations or taking any drugs. And everyone--not just pregnant women--should watch what they eat and drink when away from home. Pregnant women should be especially careful of raw or undercooked meat or seafood, which may contain an organism that could harm a fetus. Drink only bottled water and pasteurized milk.

When planning a trip, carefully consider the mode of transportation. Air travel is usually safe through most of pregnancy, but discuss it with your doctor before flying. Further, a doctor’s approval is required by some airlines for women traveling during the final month of pregnancy. Before booking a trip, ask the airline to define its policy. Take advantage of the early boarding offered for passengers who may need special assistance.

Book a seat in front of the wings, where the ride is most stable. An aisle seat near the bulkhead dividing first-class from coach is best.

Should you travel by car, be sure to use the seat belts, buckling the lap belt below the bulge of your abdomen. For increased comfort, place something small and soft, like a wool scarf, between the belt and your body.

Avoid bus travel if the journey is long. Aisles are narrow and lavatory space limited.

A comfortable mode of transportation during pregnancy is train travel, because it offers space for walking.

Sea travel can be great, too, but it’s best not to take a first voyage during pregnancy. One obvious problem is seasickness, which may not be treatable because motion-sickness drugs may not be advisable during pregnancy. Ask your doctor about this. And as with the airlines, be sure to check on cruise regulations for pregnant women before booking a trip.

Sightseeing by foot is excellent exercise for pregnant women, providing they are dressed in low-heeled, comfortable shoes.

To stay in shape during travel, remember to:

--Walk around to stimulate and restore circulation and lessen leg swelling. Elevate legs when possible to relieve swelling. Avoid salty foods.

--Wear support stockings, if varicose veins are an existing condition.

--Travel in loose, light clothing that does not cut off circulation. Choose natural fabrics such as cotton or wool that absorb sweat.

--Eat five or six meals and munch on crackers to prevent nausea.

--Get more sleep than usual and rest often.